Honestly, if you were watching the Boston Celtics vs Knicks Game 4 on May 12, 2025, you probably felt like you were witnessing two different sports at the same time. On one end, there was Jalen Brunson, playing with the kind of "New York tough" desperation that makes Madison Square Garden shake. On the other, you had Jayson Tatum putting up one of the most heroic—and ultimately tragic—performances of his career.
The Knicks walked away with a 121-113 victory. They took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. But nobody was really celebrating when the final buzzer sounded. Not really.
Because when Tatum went down, the air just left the building.
The Night Jalen Brunson Became Untouchable
The Celtics started this game like they were going to run the Knicks right out of their own gym. Derrick White was hitting everything. Boston jumped out to a 12-0 run entirely from downtown and held a 62-51 lead at the half. It felt like Game 3 all over again, where Boston's depth just overwhelmed New York's grit.
Then the third quarter happened.
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Jalen Brunson played the entire 12 minutes of the third. He dropped 18 points in that frame alone. It wasn't just that he was scoring; it was how he was doing it. He was hunting Al Horford on switches, hitting those impossible fadeaways, and basically carrying the entire city of New York on his shoulders.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Knicks had outscored Boston 37-23 in the third. The momentum hadn't just shifted; it had evaporated for the Celtics.
The Box Score Breakdown
New York didn't win this just on Brunson’s 39 points and 12 assists. They won it because Karl-Anthony Towns finally played like the All-Star the Knicks traded for.
- Jalen Brunson: 39 PTS, 12 AST, 4-8 from 3PT.
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 23 PTS, 11 REB (shot 11/15 from the field).
- Mikal Bridges: 23 PTS, including several back-breaking mid-range jumpers in the clutch.
- OG Anunoby: 20 PTS and the defensive assignment on Tatum that kept things "close enough."
The Injury That Changed Everything
We have to talk about the 2:58 mark in the fourth quarter. It’s the moment that redefined the Celtics' 2024-25 season.
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Tatum had been unbelievable. He had 42 points. He had just hit back-to-back threes to try and drag Boston back from a double-digit deficit. He was 16-28 from the floor and looking every bit like the best player in the world.
Then, on a non-contact play near the baseline, he crumpled.
Seeing a superstar carried off to a wheelchair is never easy. But knowing now that it was a torn right Achilles? It makes those 42 points feel bittersweet. The Celtics lost the game 121-113, but they lost way more than a playoff game that night. They lost their identity for the next eight months.
Why the Knicks Won the Chess Match
- Starter Stamina: Tom Thibodeau did Thibs things. He played his starters nearly the entire second half. Desperate? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
- The 11-0 Run: After Tatum tied it at 102, the Knicks responded with an 11-0 burst. That was the game. Mikal Bridges was the silent killer here, hitting two fades that felt like daggers.
- Second Half Defense: Boston went 12/24 from three in the first half. In the second half? They went cold. New York chased them off the line and forced them into contested mid-range shots.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Series
A lot of fans think the Celtics just "choked" a 3-1 lead or that the Knicks got lucky. That’s a lazy take. Honestly, the Knicks were the better-conditioned team. Even before the Tatum injury, the Knicks were out-hustling a tired Boston rotation.
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People forget that Boston had already blown two big leads earlier in the series. The Knicks' ability to hang around—trailing by 14 at one point in Game 4—is what actually won them the series. It wasn't a fluke. It was a systematic breakdown of the Celtics' perimeter defense.
Where Does the Rivalry Go From Here?
As of early 2026, the ripple effects are still being felt. Tatum is finally back on the court for the Celtics after his May 2025 surgery, but the hierarchy in the East has shifted. The Knicks proved they can take down the defending champs, and Jalen Brunson has solidified himself as a Top 5 MVP candidate.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from the Boston Celtics vs Knicks Game 4 saga, keep an eye on these factors for their next matchup:
- The Mikal Bridges Factor: He was the trade that changed the Knicks' ceiling. His defense on Jaylen Brown in the absence of Tatum is now the blueprint.
- Health Management: Boston has been incredibly cautious with Tatum’s return in 2026. Don't expect him to play heavy minutes in back-to-back games.
- The Knicks' Bench: While Thibs loves his starters, the 2025-26 Knicks have added more depth to avoid the burnout we saw late in that playoff run.
The next time these two teams meet, it won't just be a regular-season game. It’ll be a rematch of the night the Garden shook and the Celtics' dynasty hit a massive speed bump.
To stay ahead of the curve on the next meeting, check the latest injury reports for the February 8, 2026, matchup at TD Garden. Pay close attention to the point spread if the Knicks are underdogs on the road—they've historically covered well in Boston during the Brunson era. For those tracking Tatum's recovery, monitor his "minutes played" trend over the last five games to see if he's truly back to his pre-injury workload.